Social media threats on President No complaint lodged – SLCERT

The Criminal Investigation Department is presently investigating an incident where several individuals are reported to have threatened the life of President Maithripala Sirisena via videos posted on social media on Facebook.

Police Media Spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekera said the Presidential Secretariat had lodged a complaint regarding the matter.

Although it is not reported as to exactly how many are involved, several individuals including females have reportedly scolded Sirisena and a side to making defamatory remarks, made death threats against him, he added.

“This has been done over the recent arrest of General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who is presently remanded for contempt of court. The individuals in question have not been identified yet. Even though it is not decided as yet, they will most probably be charged under the Penal Code,” he mentioned.

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) informed that no complaint had been made regarding such to the SLCERT.

Senior Information Security Engineer of the SLCERT Roshan Chandraguptha said that Facebook operates on its own terms and conditions.

“We deal with information security. There is the freedom of expression for anyone to post their opinion on social media networks. If Facebook’s terms and conditions are violated by such publishing or sharing, Facebook can remove the content or take down, disable/deactivate the said account/s and/or take legal action. We cannot do so,” he elaborated.